Spoke-fastener.



Patented Oct. 28, 19112'.

B. B. Bowl-zas. SPIJKE FASTENEB. (Application ledrMar. 17, 1.902.)

wszfi@ BOSE B. BOWERS, OF MACON, GEORGIA.

sPoKE-FAs-TsNl-m.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,037, dated October 28, 1902.

v Application tiled March 17, 1902.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be i-t knownthat I, BOSE IBOWERS; a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Macon, in Ille county of Bibb and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spoke-Fasteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andY exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and usefulY improvements in spoke-fasteners, whereby the spokes of a vehicle-wheel may be tightened or removed in case of breakage, and comprises an expanding hub-section adapted to force the end of the spoke against the rim and securely hold the same in place.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and then speciiically defined in the appended claim.

I clearly illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this application, and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view transversely through the hub of a vehicle-wheel constructed in'accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the hub. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of the hub-sections. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the expanding hub-section. Fig. 5 is a detail View ofthe expanding member; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of the threaded bolt, which is positioned Within the bore of the hub to form a bearing for the axle.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates one section of the hub, which has preferably integral therewith a hollow tubular section B, which has threads about its outer periphery, the inner threaded portion being adapted to receive the cylindrical tubular portion D, which has threads about its Vouter circumference designed to engage the threads on the inner periphery of said tubular portion B, said tubular portion D being provided to receive a form and bearing for the axle. The end of the tubular portion B has a head which may be ornamental and adapted to fit against the hub-section.

Serial No. 98,596. (No model.)

Fitting Vflat against the hub-section, which is integral with the tubular extension, is the expanding ring E, having a series of sockets E about its circumference adapted to receive theY butt-ends of the spokes. Fitting over the integral tubular extension B is an` expanding member F, which has a tapering end adapted to engage the inner periphery of the expanding ring and is provided with interior Athreads which engage over the threads of said tubular extension- B, and notches G in the end of the expanding member are provided to receive the arms of a wrench for the purpose of Vscrewing said expanding member through the expanding ring. A cap H with interior threads is adapted to be screwed over the outer end of the expanding member when the parts have been adjusted in place.

K K designate spokes,'the inner or butt ends of which are bluntly tapered and are adapted to be received each in a notch or rev cess in the circumference of said expanding ring. The outer ends of the spokes are of the usual construction and provided with pintles adapted to enter apertures in the rim L. After the spokes have been adjusted in place the second portion M ofthe hub may be fastened to the section ot'Y the hub carrying the integral tubular section` by means of the screws or fastening means.

In assembling the parts of my invention the spokes are inserted in the recesses about the circumference of the expanding ring, the expanding member F is inserted through the expanding ring, and being screwed 'up by means of a wrench the spokes will be driven outward longitudinally slightly, so that they will bite securely against the rim. When they are thusadj usted, the cap may be placed upon the expanding member, the bearing member maybe screwed into the tubular extension B, and after the spokes have been adj usted the hub-sections may be fastened together in any suitable manner, as by means of screws. In case the rim of the Wheel shrinks or becomes too short a tightening,-

lscrew .I is provided, which is adapted to engage the threaded wallof an aperture, whereby as said screw is turned in one direction the ends of the rim may be expanded or forced apart.

From the foregoing it will be observed that ICO by the construction of a spoke-tightener ernbodying the features of my invention the spokes may be replaced by simply unloosening the expanding ring, or the spokes if they should become loose may be tightened by screwing in the cylindrical portion having the conical expanding collar, causing the spokes to tightly bind against the rini.

Having thus fully described my invention, 1what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A device for tightening spokes of vehiclewheels, comprising in combination Wi th a hub-section having a tubular extension exteriorly and interiorly threaded, an expanding ring having recesses about its circumference, held against said extension and about its tnbularextension, spokes having ends conforming to and resting in said recesses and bearing against the rim of the wheel, a cylindrical expanding member having a conicalshaped expanding end adapted for engagement with the inner periphery of the expanding ring, a threaded cap tted over the outer end of said expanding cylinder, and an exteriorly threaded tubular bearing portion adapted to be screwed into the tubular extension of The hub-section, and a second hubsection adapted for engagement with the face of the first hub-section, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BOSE B. BOWVERS. Witnesses:

L. D. MOORE, OLIVER ORR. 

